What happened in the Exactis data breach?
Twingate Team
•
Mar 14, 2024
Exactis, a marketing and data aggregation firm, experienced a massive data breach in June 2018. This database contained an extensive amount of personal information collected by Exactis, affecting millions of individuals and businesses across the United States.
How many records were compromised?
The breach exposed nearly 340 million records.
What type of data was leaked?
The exposed database included a wide range of personal information, such as credit status information, dates of birth, education levels, email addresses, ethnicities, family structure, financial investments, genders, home ownership statuses, income levels, ip addresses, marital statuses, names, net worths, occupations, personal interests, phone numbers, physical addresses, religions, and spoken languages.
How was Exactis hacked?
The data was breached due to a misconfigured database that was left unsecured and publicly accessible on the internet. This oversight allowed anyone who knew where to look to access and potentially download the vast trove of data without any need for hacking or unauthorized intrusion.
Exactis’s solution
Following the discovery of the breach, Exactis secured the database to prevent further unauthorized access. In response to the breach, Exactis faced legal actions, including class-action lawsuits, highlighting the legal and financial repercussions of failing to protect consumer data adequately.
How do I know if I was affected?
Due to the nature of the breach and the type of data Exactis collects, it may be difficult for individuals to know if their information was specifically compromised. Those concerned about their personal data shuld check platforms like HaveIBeenPwned and their accounts for unusual activity and be vigilant against phishing attempts.
What should affected users do?
Given the extensive personal information involved, affected individuals should:
Monitor for Identity Theft: Regularly check your credit reports and account statements for any signs of unauthorized activity.
Be Cautious of Phishing Scams: With detailed personal information exposed, be wary of targeted phishing emails or calls.
Secure Personal Data: Review and secure the privacy settings of your online accounts, and consider data monitoring services to alert you to potential misuse of your information.
Consider Legal Action: Individuals impacted by the Exactis data breach may explore legal options, including participation in class-action lawsuits.
Where can I go to learn more?
For more information on the Exactis data breach and for advice on safeguarding your personal information, please refer to the following resources:
Rapidly implement a modern Zero Trust network that is more secure and maintainable than VPNs.
What happened in the Exactis data breach?
Twingate Team
•
Mar 14, 2024
Exactis, a marketing and data aggregation firm, experienced a massive data breach in June 2018. This database contained an extensive amount of personal information collected by Exactis, affecting millions of individuals and businesses across the United States.
How many records were compromised?
The breach exposed nearly 340 million records.
What type of data was leaked?
The exposed database included a wide range of personal information, such as credit status information, dates of birth, education levels, email addresses, ethnicities, family structure, financial investments, genders, home ownership statuses, income levels, ip addresses, marital statuses, names, net worths, occupations, personal interests, phone numbers, physical addresses, religions, and spoken languages.
How was Exactis hacked?
The data was breached due to a misconfigured database that was left unsecured and publicly accessible on the internet. This oversight allowed anyone who knew where to look to access and potentially download the vast trove of data without any need for hacking or unauthorized intrusion.
Exactis’s solution
Following the discovery of the breach, Exactis secured the database to prevent further unauthorized access. In response to the breach, Exactis faced legal actions, including class-action lawsuits, highlighting the legal and financial repercussions of failing to protect consumer data adequately.
How do I know if I was affected?
Due to the nature of the breach and the type of data Exactis collects, it may be difficult for individuals to know if their information was specifically compromised. Those concerned about their personal data shuld check platforms like HaveIBeenPwned and their accounts for unusual activity and be vigilant against phishing attempts.
What should affected users do?
Given the extensive personal information involved, affected individuals should:
Monitor for Identity Theft: Regularly check your credit reports and account statements for any signs of unauthorized activity.
Be Cautious of Phishing Scams: With detailed personal information exposed, be wary of targeted phishing emails or calls.
Secure Personal Data: Review and secure the privacy settings of your online accounts, and consider data monitoring services to alert you to potential misuse of your information.
Consider Legal Action: Individuals impacted by the Exactis data breach may explore legal options, including participation in class-action lawsuits.
Where can I go to learn more?
For more information on the Exactis data breach and for advice on safeguarding your personal information, please refer to the following resources:
Rapidly implement a modern Zero Trust network that is more secure and maintainable than VPNs.
What happened in the Exactis data breach?
Twingate Team
•
Mar 14, 2024
Exactis, a marketing and data aggregation firm, experienced a massive data breach in June 2018. This database contained an extensive amount of personal information collected by Exactis, affecting millions of individuals and businesses across the United States.
How many records were compromised?
The breach exposed nearly 340 million records.
What type of data was leaked?
The exposed database included a wide range of personal information, such as credit status information, dates of birth, education levels, email addresses, ethnicities, family structure, financial investments, genders, home ownership statuses, income levels, ip addresses, marital statuses, names, net worths, occupations, personal interests, phone numbers, physical addresses, religions, and spoken languages.
How was Exactis hacked?
The data was breached due to a misconfigured database that was left unsecured and publicly accessible on the internet. This oversight allowed anyone who knew where to look to access and potentially download the vast trove of data without any need for hacking or unauthorized intrusion.
Exactis’s solution
Following the discovery of the breach, Exactis secured the database to prevent further unauthorized access. In response to the breach, Exactis faced legal actions, including class-action lawsuits, highlighting the legal and financial repercussions of failing to protect consumer data adequately.
How do I know if I was affected?
Due to the nature of the breach and the type of data Exactis collects, it may be difficult for individuals to know if their information was specifically compromised. Those concerned about their personal data shuld check platforms like HaveIBeenPwned and their accounts for unusual activity and be vigilant against phishing attempts.
What should affected users do?
Given the extensive personal information involved, affected individuals should:
Monitor for Identity Theft: Regularly check your credit reports and account statements for any signs of unauthorized activity.
Be Cautious of Phishing Scams: With detailed personal information exposed, be wary of targeted phishing emails or calls.
Secure Personal Data: Review and secure the privacy settings of your online accounts, and consider data monitoring services to alert you to potential misuse of your information.
Consider Legal Action: Individuals impacted by the Exactis data breach may explore legal options, including participation in class-action lawsuits.
Where can I go to learn more?
For more information on the Exactis data breach and for advice on safeguarding your personal information, please refer to the following resources: